The Great British Bake Off is back for its tenth season now on Channel 4 with its youngest group of bakers yet. Seven of this year’s thirteen contestants are under thirty, whereas last year had only three!

Here’s a look at the youngest contestant this year, fresh-faced university student, Henry Bird aged 20.

He dazzled judges in the first episode, winning the technical bake of the Angel cake. After admitting he had never made one before, presenter Sandi Toksvig quipped “well that’s because you’re 12.”

But what is Henry's background before starting the series?

Here is what you need to know about The Great British Bake Off contestant Henry Bird.

The Great British Bake Off: Who is Henry Bird?

Henry Bird (Image: Channel 4)

Henry Bird is an English Literature student at Durham University, originally from Ilford, having studied at Chigwell school where he left as Head Boy.

His love of baking started not long after Series 2, where the famous white tent was pitched on the grounds of Valentines Mansion, in Ilford.

Henry, when asked about making it onto GBBO, said: “I have wanted to get into the tent since (then). They filmed it at the end of my road, so I used to see Paul Hollywood when I walked past the tent to go to school in the mornings.”

He didn’t fail to mention this to the judges, adding “on the first day of filming, I told Paul… so he knew I had come full circle and was now in the Tent, and that was pretty special.”

His favourite bake is reportedly the classic brownie with salted caramel drizzle, his secret is a dash of black pepper.